Topic Four/Five
History of education in Canada and Saskatchewan
by Tanya Weller - Monday, 10 October 2016, 10:03 PM
As beginning teachers it is important to learn about the history of education in Canada and Saskatchewan so that we are aware of the struggles and the changes that were made. Many of the struggles encountered were a result of conflicting opinions on what needed to be taught and to whom. Changes throughout history were made to accommodate or facilitate the changing needs of the government and population during periods of conflict or disagreement.
My questions that came up after viewing each of the lectures are included at the bottom of each lecture's key points.
Lecture 1
Between 1608 and 1780 schools were set up through religious institutions called petites écoles for the French colonists. Their lessons centred around catechism, reading, writing and arithmetic. The Role of the Church in New France gives us a picture of what the French colony was like back then. In 1763 Britain had conquered the French colony. However, the Treaty of Paris (1763) allowed the French to keep their religion and their French status. France gave up all their territories.
Starting in the late 1700’s the upper class and lower classes were educated separately. The need for government control of education was seen as necessary because the lower class were being singled out for lower standards of education. Eventually the School Act of 1816 was put into force to ensure universal education for all. In 1841 the Province of Canada was formed by amalgamating Upper and Lower Canada. The common School Act came into existence in 1841, was revised in 1843, provincial school systems followed in 1850.
Egerton Ryerson was appointed Chief Superintendent of Schools along with the authority to make regulations including dispersing and withholding of funds. Normal Schools were first established in the mid 1800’s to train teachers. For the next hundred years or so they were provincially regulated. Their methods of instruction were strictly adhered to. Regina (closed and moved to UofR in 1964), Saskatoon and Moose Jaw each had a normal school to train teachers.
I believe the most powerful influence on education up to this point in time – 1850’s – was both religion and government control of education.
My question is how many years did the normal school educated teachers take to complete their training?
What age or grade must the student teacher reach before entering normal school?
What grade did the schools for children go up to?
Lecture 2
In 1867 Canada becomes a country with 4 provinces and leaves behind it’s colony status. The Canadian Constitution is drawn up. All education was placed within the jurisdiction of the provinces including minority faiths and their right to educate their own. In Quebec there was an allowance for both Catholics and Protestants to have their own school systems.
In 1982 Canada releases itself from the British monarchy. Education receives its own section in the Constitution Act.
I think that Education jurisdiction should be federally regulated because it is difficult for families that move across provinces to be at the same grade level. For example, when I moved here from Toronto, which has grades to 13, I was asked to repeat grade 9 because they would not recognize the credentials of Ontario schools for that grade.
My question: If education was to be federally regulated would minority religions be less able to educate their young because the process to get approved might take longer. Especially, if the religion was not mainstream in the power provinces like Ontario and Quebec?
Lecture 3
As of 10 years ago we now have 3 territories. Saskatchewan has both Public ands Separate school systems. Quebec now has a language based education system – either French or English schools. There are 12 fransaskois schools throughout Saskatchewan with a total of 1550 students. The four main areas of contention within the schooling system across Canada are central authority or local control, professional or public authority, common experiences or accommodating diversity, and where do religious interests fit in?
Questions:
Now that Nunavet is a territory of Canada, will it be possible to hope that perhaps it's native tongue will be incorporated into a Inuit Language (Inuktitut Inuinnaqtun) only school? However, on the global stage would this be a serious handicap? Also, would a Cree only school in Saskatchewan be viable? Again, would this further handicap these nations in their bid for autonomy outside of the borders of Canada or even within most of Canada?
History of education in Canada and Saskatchewan
by Tanya Weller - Monday, 10 October 2016, 10:03 PM
As beginning teachers it is important to learn about the history of education in Canada and Saskatchewan so that we are aware of the struggles and the changes that were made. Many of the struggles encountered were a result of conflicting opinions on what needed to be taught and to whom. Changes throughout history were made to accommodate or facilitate the changing needs of the government and population during periods of conflict or disagreement.
My questions that came up after viewing each of the lectures are included at the bottom of each lecture's key points.
Lecture 1
Between 1608 and 1780 schools were set up through religious institutions called petites écoles for the French colonists. Their lessons centred around catechism, reading, writing and arithmetic. The Role of the Church in New France gives us a picture of what the French colony was like back then. In 1763 Britain had conquered the French colony. However, the Treaty of Paris (1763) allowed the French to keep their religion and their French status. France gave up all their territories.
Starting in the late 1700’s the upper class and lower classes were educated separately. The need for government control of education was seen as necessary because the lower class were being singled out for lower standards of education. Eventually the School Act of 1816 was put into force to ensure universal education for all. In 1841 the Province of Canada was formed by amalgamating Upper and Lower Canada. The common School Act came into existence in 1841, was revised in 1843, provincial school systems followed in 1850.
Egerton Ryerson was appointed Chief Superintendent of Schools along with the authority to make regulations including dispersing and withholding of funds. Normal Schools were first established in the mid 1800’s to train teachers. For the next hundred years or so they were provincially regulated. Their methods of instruction were strictly adhered to. Regina (closed and moved to UofR in 1964), Saskatoon and Moose Jaw each had a normal school to train teachers.
I believe the most powerful influence on education up to this point in time – 1850’s – was both religion and government control of education.
My question is how many years did the normal school educated teachers take to complete their training?
What age or grade must the student teacher reach before entering normal school?
What grade did the schools for children go up to?
Lecture 2
In 1867 Canada becomes a country with 4 provinces and leaves behind it’s colony status. The Canadian Constitution is drawn up. All education was placed within the jurisdiction of the provinces including minority faiths and their right to educate their own. In Quebec there was an allowance for both Catholics and Protestants to have their own school systems.
In 1982 Canada releases itself from the British monarchy. Education receives its own section in the Constitution Act.
I think that Education jurisdiction should be federally regulated because it is difficult for families that move across provinces to be at the same grade level. For example, when I moved here from Toronto, which has grades to 13, I was asked to repeat grade 9 because they would not recognize the credentials of Ontario schools for that grade.
My question: If education was to be federally regulated would minority religions be less able to educate their young because the process to get approved might take longer. Especially, if the religion was not mainstream in the power provinces like Ontario and Quebec?
Lecture 3
As of 10 years ago we now have 3 territories. Saskatchewan has both Public ands Separate school systems. Quebec now has a language based education system – either French or English schools. There are 12 fransaskois schools throughout Saskatchewan with a total of 1550 students. The four main areas of contention within the schooling system across Canada are central authority or local control, professional or public authority, common experiences or accommodating diversity, and where do religious interests fit in?
Questions:
Now that Nunavet is a territory of Canada, will it be possible to hope that perhaps it's native tongue will be incorporated into a Inuit Language (Inuktitut Inuinnaqtun) only school? However, on the global stage would this be a serious handicap? Also, would a Cree only school in Saskatchewan be viable? Again, would this further handicap these nations in their bid for autonomy outside of the borders of Canada or even within most of Canada?